News 05 February 2014
All the news for Wednesday 5 February 2014
David Harte gives majesty to Mumbai Magicians
K Arumugam
Invincible and impregnable, Mumbai Magicians' goalie David Harte matched move by move of his counter part Fransisco Cortes to earn two points for his side on Tuesday here in Ranchi.
Mumbai struck through Trent Mitton which evened out earlier lone goal by Justin Reid-Ross, as the contest ended 1-1 at Ranchi.
When the goal posts came in the way much part of the match, denying Prabhjot Singh twice and Ashley Jackson once in his penalty corner strike, David Harte stole the heart of full stadium stands with a flurry of saves, especially the stroke taken by Ashley Jackson in the 60th minute when the score was 1-1, and the conversion could have given his rivals full five points.
The 25-year old Irishman jumped to his right and extended his stick to deny Ashley Jackson the stroke conversion, which was undoubtedly an easy one for the hosts.
Mumbai got its first chance to go up when it got a penalty corner in the 12th minute, but Gurjinder missed.
He would again miss two more in the day, but the first goal for the Mumbai came when Cortes blocked his strong flick, but Trent Mitton bounced on to the hard rebound. This goal came six minutes after Harte had to concede a strange goal coming from the stick of Justin Reid Ross.
Gurjinder's hard push off a penalty corner hit the left post, and sped pass across the goalmouth and got hit on the other post before bouncing into the net.
Lucky goal for the hosts, who used all tricks in the trade not to let their supportive crowd down, but they could not hold on to this slender lead for next six minutes.
Prabhot Singh twice got the taste of left post, when his close flicks got deflected. He was again a culprit when Sarvanjit fed him from top of D, but he swept the ball so slow the goalie spotted and deflected. IN the third quarter, he was served with a parallel pass from Ravi Pal, but was a bit late in putting the stick across the flight of the ball, again a goal missed.
Prabhjot Singh was all over the D, had good chances to put his side up, but was a bit rusty and slack in anticipation to let go the chances.
On the other hand, Vikas Pillay's superb penalty corner defence and Rahim Razie's general alert moves to thwart Ranchi's troublesome forwards came to the fore, as also all round ability of Ranchi Rhinos's Brendera Lakra.
Ashley Jackson was in full flow, but somehow could not provide finish to his good moves upfront, capping his miss in the penalty stroke.
Mumbai, playing their fourth match, managed not to lose first time, and only pick up from here.
PR Sreejesh, a $48k goalie was rested today against $11k Harte, a risk taken by Kaushik that paid him off in the end.
Harte was declared Man of the Match, while Trent Mitton got the Hero Goal of the match award.
Stick2Hockey.com
Magicians hold Rhinos in an exciting draw
CLEARING IT AWAY: Mumbai Magicians' Gurjinder Singh (left) keeps Eduard Arbos of Ranchi Rhinos at bay during their HIL encounter. Photo Manob Chowdhury
Mumbai Magicians held defending champion Ranchi Rhinos 1-1 at the latter’s home — the Astroturf Hockey Stadium — to reverse a sequence of losses in the Hockey India League here on Tuesday.
Ranchi Rhinos went ahead in the 52nd through a penalty corner conversion by South African drag-flicker Justin Reid Ross before the Magicians restored parity through Australian Trent Mitton in the 58th.
The first half remained barren as the two teams frittered away ample scoring opportunities. Looking for its first win of the tournament after suffering three successive losses, the Mumbai team attacked right from the start.
Led by captain Australian Glenn Turner, it controlled the midfield well and opened up the Rhinos’ otherwise compact defence on a few occasions. Prabhjot Singh almost capitalised on the initial dominance of the Magicians but his shot hit one of the uprights.
The Rhinos encountered a similar fate as its drag-flick expert, Englishman Ashley Jackson, saw his effort coming off the goalpost in the home team’s first penalty corner of the match in the 13th minute.
The match came alive in the third quarter when Rhinos attacked more. Man-of-the-match and Magicians’ Irish goalkeeper David Harte saved a great effort from Rhinos captain Moritz Fruste in the 40th minute to begin a sequence of good saves. The best from Harte came in the 61st minute when he saved a penalty stroke taken by Jackson.
The result: Ranchi Rhinos 1 (Justin Reid Ross 52) drew with Mumbai Magicians 1 (Trent Mitton 58).
The Hindu
Fighting Magicians hold Ranchi Rhinos
Arnab Lall Seal
RANCHI: Mumbai Magicians, who had lost their previous three matches in the second edition of Hockey India League, pulled off an upset of sorts on Tuesday after they played out a 1-1 draw against defending champions Ranchi Rhinos at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium.
Ranchi Rhinos opened the scoring after the match remained goalless for the first two quarters and most of the third quarter. But the Magicians came back strongly and earned themselves a valuable draw as Trent Mitton scored with 12 minutes left in the game.
Just as the third quarter was coming to an end, Moritz Furste helped the home side earn their second penalty corner of the match. After Ashley Jackson failed to convert the first penalty corner, it was Justin Reid-Ross who stepped up to take the second one and he made no mistake in slotting it home with ease. Magicians goalkeeper David Harte, who had been outstanding throughout the night, stretched out his leg in the right direction but was unable to keep the grounded stroke out.
The Magicians, however, got back into the game at the start of the fourth quarter after Prabhjot Singh earned them their third penalty corner. Going one-on-one against Rhinos goalkeeper Francisco Cortes, Prabjhot initially missed an easy chance but made up for it by earning the penalty corner. Even though Cortes saved the penalty corner he failed to keep out Trent Mitton's shot on the rebound.
With the score reading 1-1 things started heating up and Rhinos won the first penalty shot of the match. Jackson stepped up to take it but was denied by Harte, who also had an excellent day in front of the goal. With time ticking, the two teams tried their best to break the deadlock but both the goalkeepers made excellent saves to deny them.
Meanwhile, the absence of Mandeep Singh was felt from the word go as the defending champions failed to score in the first 35 minutes of the match. Amon Tirkey, Floris Evers and Barry Middleton did their best but failed to give Rhinos the lead. On the other hand, it was the bottom-placed Magicians who impressed in the initial minutes of the game with their skipper Glen Turner going on the attack down the right flank.
The Times of India
Ranchi Rhinos held to a 1-1 draw by Mumbai Magicians
RANCHI: Defending champions Ranchi Rhinos and Mumbai Magicians played out a 1-1 draw at the Birsa Munda Astroturf Stadium in the Hockey India League, on Tuesday.
Reid Ross Justin drew the first blood for Rhinos with a blistering strike off a penalty corner in the 57th minute, while the Mumbai team restored parity five minutes later through Trent Mitton.
The hosts could have shot ahead three minutes before the final hooter but Jackson Ashley's penalty stroke was superbly saved by Magicians' goalkeeper Harte David, who also brought off a couple of extra-ordinary saves during the match.
After the match, Mumbai coach M K Kaushik said: "The guys played well. A little more effort, and we would have won the match."
The Times of India
Spirited Magicians hold Ranchi
Ranchi - After three consecutive defeats, Mumbai Magicians came up with a spirited performance to hold defending champions Ranchi Rhinos to a 1-1 draw in the Hockey India League at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium today.
Justin Reid Ross drew first blood for the Rhinos with a blistering strike from a penalty corner in the 52nd minute. The Mumbai team restored parity six minutes later through Trent Mitton.
The hosts could have shot ahead three minutes before the final hooter but Ashley Jackson's penalty stroke was saved by the Magicians' goalkeeper David Harte, who also pulled off a couple of extraordinary saves to help his team pull off their first draw of the tournament.
"I am very satisfied with the overall performance of the team. We got various opportunities, particularly in the first half. As the game proceeded the boys improved. If we play consistently like this we can win more matches in the future," Glenn Turner, captain of Mumbai Magicians said.
TODAY’S MATCH
Delhi VS UP (8 PM)
LIVE STREAMING ON STAR SPORTS
The Tribune
Punjab gets 2 international hockey events
Rachna Khaira
Jalandhar - Hockey India (HI) on Tuesday announced that two international tournaments would be held in Punjab in the next couple of years. HI secretary general Narinder Batra confirmed that a six-nation tournament would be held in Mohali in September this year.
"A six nation tournament would be held in September. Looking at the schedule, Pan-American countries are expected to participate in the tournament," said Batra.
He added that another International Hockey Federation (FIH) tournament would be organised in Punjab, in 2015, but the details were yet to be finalised as Odisha has also been selected for hosting international tournaments.
“HI would be organizing the World league Final (men) and the World League Round One (women) next year. We would be organising one in Punjab. We have not decided the venue but very soon will be doing that.”
While Hockey Punjab welcomed the decision, it requested HI to allow the Punjab body to host a six-nation tournament of its own. "We have been requesting HI for the last six years to allow us to host a six-nation tournament in Punjab with a prize money of $2,50,000 (Rs.1.5 crore), but they have refused due to busy schedule," said Pargat Singh, secretary of Hockey Punjab.
The Tribune
Scotland Senior Women squad named for South Africa series
Scotland Senior Women
With the FIH Champions Challenge and Commonwealth Games fast approaching this summer, Scotland Senior Women will fly out to South Africa later this week for a ten day squad training camp (10-20 February), including seven international matches against their hosts at the Tswane University in Pretoria.
Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd names twenty-four players for the trip, including three new caps; Milne Craig Clydesdale Western’s Jennifer Eadie, Beeston’s Robyn Collins and Merlins Gordonians’ goalkeeper Siobhan Cowie.
Scottish quintet Ali Bell, Amy Gibson, Nikki Kidd, Emily Maguire and Morag McLellan are unavailable following their inclusion in the Great Britain squad travelling to the United States to face USA and New Zealand this month.
Looking forward the training camp and international matches, Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “The South Africa camp presents us with a great opportunity to have the players together for intensive training in warm weather and international matches against a high calibre of opposition.
“We’re able to take a large squad, which gives the coaching team an ideal opportunity to look at all the players against the South Africans. While results are important, the camp is really about starting to build for the Champions Challenge and Commonwealth Games, and setting the performance standards required for these important competitions.”
Scotland youngster Jennifer Eadie has a chance to win her first senior outdoor cap in South Africa, credit: Duncan Gray
The Scots last faced South Africa in a four match series at Peffermill in Edinburgh before the EuroHockey Nations Championship last summer. The away side edged the series 2-1, which also included a thrilling 5-5 draw.
The South Africans come into the matches against Scotland having drawn a three match series 1-1 against Australia, and defeating Belgium 2-1 in a six-test series. Players to watch include veteran goal-scoring machine Pietie Coetzee and captain Marsha Marescia.
“We’ve played South Africa a number of times in the last two years so we know that the players will be tested against a top world nation. However, I have no doubt we will test them in equal measure and I’m looking forward to the matches.”
Scotland Senior Women: Jennifer Eadie (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Becky Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Amy Brodie (CALA Edinburgh), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Samantha Judge (Edinburgh University), Sarah Robertson (Edinburgh University), Holly Cram (Clydesdale Western), Linda Clement (Grove Menzieshill), Ailsa Wyllie (Grove Menzieshill), Kareena Marshall (Western Wildcats), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Canterbury), Maisie Morris (Edinburgh University), Alison Howie (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Aileen Davis (Clifton), Kirsten McIntosh (Edinburgh University), Robyn Collins (Beeston), Heather Elder (Dundee Wanderers), Siobhan Cowie (Merlin's Gordonians)
Match Schedule:
Tues 11th Feb, 1500 or 1900 TBC, Scotland v SA (Unofficial Test)
Wed 12th Feb, 1500, Scotland v SA (Unofficial Test)
Fri 14th Feb, 1830, Test 1 Scotland v SA
Sat 15th Feb, 1500, Test 2 Scotland v SA
Sun 16th Feb, 1500, Test 3 Scotland v SA
Tues 18th Feb, 1830, Test 4 Scotland v SA
Wed 19th Feb, 1500, Test 5 Scotland v SA
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Indoor League Grand Finals & Gala Day schedule confirmed
Vikki Bunce
Scottish Hockey's National Indoor League Grand Finals and Gala Day will take place on Saturday 8 February at Bell's Sports Centre, Perth.
An exciting day of indoor hockey, including drama and intrigue, is on offer with promotion and relegation play-offs taking place throughout the day, plus both Grand Finals to determine the winners and European qualification from Men's and Women's National Indoor League Division 1.
Spectators will be admitted FREE OF CHARGE and we would encourage you, your family and friends to attend and support the clubs taking part.
Please see the match schedule below
Moodie of Inverleith ready for Gala Day
Game 1
10am Women's National Indoor League Division 1 7th/8th Place Relegation Play-Off
Waverley Inveresk Trinity v Hillhead Ladies (loser relegated to Division 2, winner proceeds to Division 1/2 play-off)
Game 2
11.05am Men's National Indoor League Division 1 7th/8th Place Relegation Play-Off
Hillhead v Falkirk GHG (loser relegated to Division 2, winner proceeds to Division 1/2 play-off)
Game 3
12.10 Men's National Indoor League Division 2 1st/2nd Place Promotion Play-Off
PSL Team Sport Clydesdale v Uddingston (winner promoted to Division 1, loser proceeds to Division 1/2 play-off)
Game 4
13.15 Women's National Indoor League Division 1/2 Play-Off
Winner of Game 1 v Inverleith (winner included in Division 1 for 2014/15 season)
Game 5
14.20 Women's National Indoor League Division 1 Grand Final
Milne Craig Clydesdale Western v Dundee Wanderers (winner declared league champions and European qualifiers)
Game 6
15.35 Men's National Indoor League Division 1/2 Play-Off
Winner of Game 2 v Loser of Game 3 (winner included in Division 1 for 2014/15 season)
Game 7
16.40 Men's National Indoor League Division 1 Grand Final
Grove Menzieshill v Inverleith (winner declared league champions and European qualifiers)
Please note that all fixtures ending in a draw at full-time will proceed directly to running penalties.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Jordan Grant ready to shine for Black Sticks
BRENDON EGAN
GETTING HER CHANCE: Jordan Grant. MICHAEL BRADLEY/Fairfax NZ
Canterbury midfielder Jordan Grant has addressed her fitness issues and been rewarded with a place in the Black Sticks women's hockey team for the first time.
Grant and provincial team-mate Jenny Storey were called into the New Zealand side as injury replacements for Stacey Michelsen and Krystal Forgesson on Monday. The Black Sticks fly to San Diego tomorrow to compete in a three-nation tournament against the United States and Great Britain from February 12-18.
Grant, 22, has been in the national development squad for the past year and coach Mark Hager said she attracted attention during last year's national league, impressing in the unfamiliar position of right half.
He said Grant's fitness had counted against her in the past, but said she had gone away, worked hard and made the necessary progress.
"The only thing that has held her back is her fitness. That's been a clear message to her. Improve that and there's a good chance you'll get opportunities," Hager said.
"She has done that and the chance has come up for her."
Grant, who has been a member of the Canterbury NHL side for the past three years, took only Christmas Day off over summer, going for six runs each week and three weight training sessions.
When she received the phone call from Hager she said it was a huge surprise.
"I was in shock at the start. I was like 'are you serious?'. It's all happened pretty fast.
"I've been working on my fitness a lot over summer. I didn't touch a stick for six to eight weeks. I think that's really helped me."
The versatile Grant can cover midfield roles and operate up front as a striker. Hager said she was an exciting young player and believed it was a perfect chance to see how she coped with the step up to international hockey.
"She brings an attacking style we're after. She's very quick and strong. She has a good goal presence, we believe will add to our programme."
The Black Sticks have named a relatively inexperienced squad for the US tour with eight members of the squad having played 20 tests or fewer. It is an important tournament for the fringe squad players as Hager begins to contemplate his selection mix for the World Cup and Commonwealth Games later in the year.
Grant's transition to the Black Sticks will be eased by having six of her Canterbury Cats team-mates in the side.
The former St Margaret's College student is a talented athlete, also representing the New Zealand women's touch team in 2010. She eventually realised she was unable to give everything to both sports and concentrated on hockey.
Grant said it would be a lifelong dream come true to wear the Black Sticks dress for the first time and hear the national anthem.
"That'll be amazing. Hopefully, I don't cry."
Stuff
Injury thins Malaysian hockey squad further
By Aftar Singh
A file picture of S. Selvaraju (centre) in training. He is down with an ankle injury.
KUALA LUMPUR: Injuries have robbed the national hockey training squad of two more players.
Having already lost forward Ismail Abu to a knee injury, two others – forward S. Selvaraju and midfielder Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor – are now crocked.
Selvaraju, who is back with the national team after more than four years, is nursing an ankle injury while Nabil has been struggling with a nagging shoulder injury.
The 29-year-old Ismail underwent a medical check-up at the National Sports Institute (ISN) in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday and national chief coach K. Dharmaraj said that the player will see a specialist on Friday.
“We will only know on Friday if he needs to go undergo surgery.”
The coach also explained that Selvaraju and Nabil have been suffering from ankle and shoulder injuries for some time.
“Every time Selvaraju trains, his ankle swells. He went for a check up at ISN today ... he’ll need to get jabs to relieve the swelling,” said Dharmaraj.
“Nabil has been suffering from the shoulder injury for quite some time now. He also needs to see a physiotherapist to help him overcome the injury.
“I can’t have injured players on board ... I want these three players to be fully recovered before I will consider them for any tournaments.
“The most important one this year is the Asian Games in Incheon (from Sept 19-Oct 4) as the champions will gain an automatic berth to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.”
The national team’s strength has been further diluted with the withdrawal of three other players – defenders Engku Malik Abdul Malik and Azreen Rizal Nasir and forward Harvinder Singh – for various reasons.
The overweight Engku Malik wants to shed a few kilogrammes while Azreen (sports science) and Harvinder (accountancy), who are both studying at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), have secured a six-month internship each.
With the six players out, there are only 29 players left in training squad.
But national chief coach K. Dharmaraj is not pressing the panic button, yet. And he’s likely to name new players for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh next month.
“All the players in the training squad will get the chance to play in five tournaments this year,” said Dharmaraj.
The other tournaments lined up for the national team are Champions Challenge I (Kuantan, April 26-May 4), World Cup (The Hague, May 31-June 15) and Commonwealth Games (Glasgow, Sept 19-Oct 4).
The Star of Malaysia
